What is your full name?
Fr. Jacob Adam VanAssche

What is your current Assignment/Parish?
I am pastor of St. Damien of Molokai Parish in Pontiac.

What is the greatest gift about being a priest?
To bring souls to the love of their lives: Jesus. I summarized the gift of celebrating the Sacraments into that sentence. Everything I do, I want it to bring souls to Jesus. Celebrating the Eucharist, Reconciliation, Matrimony, Anointing of the Sick, preparing our children in religious education, youth group, and spiritual direction all point others to the love of their lives: Jesus. Even when I do the things I like the least — working on a budget, writing responses to these questions, and working at my desk — I hope it all only points others and helps them encounter the love of Jesus.

What would you say to a young man discerning the priesthood?
You will never regret discerning the priesthood. If God is calling you, He is calling you; don’t worry and be afraid of how it happens. Seminary is great at helping to form and discern.

How can people at your parish best support you?
Pray for me, please.

How do you see the Holy Spirit working in the Archdiocese of Detroit?
I see the Holy Spirit guiding us to step out in faith. Since there are no bystanders, all of us must respond together to step out in faith.

Describe the first moment you knew God was calling you to the priesthood.
The first time I thought the priesthood was a possibility was when I was seven or eight years old; my pastor told me. I didn’t really know God was calling me to the priesthood for sure until a few years into seminary.

What should all young people know about discerning a vocation?
If you’re looking for an adventure, you’ve found one. Discerning your vocation in a spirit of openness to the Father’s call is an adventure of a lifetime. Even though I am no longer discerning the call to the priesthood, the gift of priesthood is another beautiful adventure that we journey on throughout our lives.